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10 SEPTEMBER 26-OCTOBER 9, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC Advocacy for the poor Disaster relief Eldercare Emergency transportation Food pantries Minor home repairs Find out how you can get involved. Go to svdpden.org or call 303-960-9163 or email us at svdpden@outlook.com Home visits with those in need Housing and rental assistance Mentoring Personal and family counseling Prison ministry Utility assistance Families are encouraged to bring helium filled balloons for a group prayer and release after Mass. Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Chapel Mt. Olivet Cemetery 12801 W. 44th Avenue Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033 (303) 424-7785 Father Jerry Rohr will celebrate Mass for the faithful who gather to remember all of our children who have gone too soon. Join us for this celebration as we pause to remember. There will also be a dove release following Mass. Annual Children's Day Mass Saturday, October 10, 2015 @ 11:00 am Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary and Mount Olivet Cemetery Around the Archdiocese S inger-songwriter Luke Spehar stopped by Denver Catholic for an exclusive studio session during his¯All Is Gift Tour. Spehar is a Minnesota native and a cradle Catholic. He said that while his faith has always influenced his music, he was never drawn to produce "corpo- rate" praise and worship songs. Instead, he wanted to emulate his musical heroes, most of whom are acoustic performers. "When I started picking up the guitar, for me it was more interesting to play finger style and learn early folk musi- cians," Spehar said. "That was just more interesting to me, and so, musically, that's just the direction I pursued." All of Spehar's songs flow from per- sonal reflections. For example, "Sweet Memories" explores his relationship with his siblings and their shared experiences growing up in Minnesota. "That's ultimately what inspired this song: the beauty and the gift of family, and just the sweet memories that you form, even at such a young age, that are a part of you and you keep with you as you grow up," Spehar said. Spehar joined the seminary after high school, which he said was a tremendous gift. Another of his songs, "An Explana- tion," conveys his emotions surrounding a breakup before he entered. "[It's about] that struggle of moving from my plan to the Lord's plan, and the pain that can cause. It was a really honest song for where I was in my life," he said. Spehar was in seminary for four years before he said he felt the Lord call him out. He said he spent those years pray- ing that God would set him on fire for his next move. It was during his last year of college seminary that he released his first album,¯"Be Still." Spehar said the release party was a success, with a few hundred people in attendance. "I was in a di¤erent place of joy, and I really hit a stride," Spehar said. He prayed, and said he became assured that God wanted him to pursue him through music. "I think that's one of the most exciting things about being extreme in your faith," Spehar said. "I made an extreme move in faith to think about being a priest... The Lord rewarded me by showing me what I wanted. I think that's the biggest thing, is he showed me what I wanted and then he gave it to me." Spehar is now married, with a baby on the way. He and his wife blog about their adventures as a newly-married couple on tour at lukespehar.com. He continues to write music and practices relentlessly, especially his more technically di°cult songs, such as one about St. Michael. He said "To St. Michael" flowed from a feeling of gratitude for the angels that protect us. His song mimics the anxiety of a spiritual attack—beginning with slow picks and crescendos into a multi-lay- ered¯rhythm¯of rapid chords. "It's a very challenging song," Spehar said. Spehar is offering free downloads of three of his songs to¯ Denver Catho- lic¯ readers. He o¤ers an additional song at his website, www.lukespehar.com. All is Gift: A studio session with Luke Spehar LUKE SPEHAR Watch exclusive videos of Spehar performing the songs mentioned above and download a free song at http:// denvercatholic.org/ luke-spehar-an-exclu- sive-studio-session/ Luke Spehar performs during an exclusive studio session for Denver Catholic. Spehar's latest project, All is Gift, is available for purchase on iTunes BY MELISSA KEATING 303-715-3123 | melissa.keating@archden.org www.twitter.com/mkeats42